Fake or real?....what do you think

[diceman]

Originally Posted by krapsusa

Ah got ya.

There have been a rash of fakes out there. I hope it not one.

From Epiphone.

Epiphone Musical Instruments - News

Thats about four years ago - and these were Korean fakes (that the article was pertaining to). You're right though, there have been quite a few lately - mostly out of China from what I know - but I'm sure that they're still making them in Korea. Those factories that were kept in business in part by making Epiphone guitars (in Korea) could very well be making them still - they have the knowhow and templates and all that, still!

[krapsusa]

Originally Posted by diceman

Thats about four years ago - and these were Korean fakes (that the article was pertaining to). You're right though, there have been quite a few lately - mostly out of China from what I know - but I'm sure that they're still making them in Korea. Those factories that were kept in business in part by making Epiphone guitars (in Korea) could very well be making them still - they have the knowhow and templates and all that, still!

They may be doing it like they used to do in Korea for other products. By day they make legit in the factory and at night they make the fakes "In the same bloody factory!"

[GNR4EVR]

Welp, I'd say its probably time for the lawyers from Gibson to pay them a lil' visit...

[Guido]

think its real (:

[davebag89]

i have to say, its possibly fake, the epi logo is too low on the headstock and the truss rod cover is the wrong shape

[dawn_dew]

the logo on the truss rod is not in the centre, its slightly to the left

[kjlugo]

Yes...I noticed the truss rod writing is not right, I will take it to a technician and he'll let me know if it's real or fake.....

I found this headstock picture from a LP member who has the same gguitar and compared it to mine and doesn't seem to be a lot of difference other than the truss rod writing, but again it will all clear out on Saturday when I take it to an expert.

check out the images and compare......the second image is an authentic Epi LP headstock with upgraded tuners.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by kjlugo

Hi guys,

I’m still new to this forum but I think it’s very helpful and a great thing for LP’s users.

I just wanted to hear your opinions on this guitar I just bought off of eBay (an Epi LP Alpine White). I paid $370 for it, and it also had the “Buy it Now” option for $580.

check the ebay auction here:
Epiphone Les Paul Custom ALPINE WHITE Guitar - eBay (item 220226548546 end time Apr-21-08 20:15:04 PDT)

I got it a couple of days ago, and I noticed all the threads talking about fake LP’s on eBay from China……since I read that, I took a very close look at my guitar and it seems to be fine except that the writing on the cover truss is a little blurry, that’s when I also started to think it might be a fake, and also the fact that it says it's shipped directly from the China factory…..other than that seems pretty “real” to me, I even went to an authorized LP store in Toronto (Steve’s) and they also have an Epi LP Alpine White and compared it with mine and it seems to have the same stuff and nothing really remarkably different.

Just wanted to see what you guys think of it. I checked the serial number and it was made last year 2007 in china, I will take some pictures later when I get home and publish them here to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

KJ

Why would you ask our opinons AFTER buying it? If it IS a fake, it is kinda late now, ain't it?

[ninny404]

Originally Posted by kjlugo

Yes...I noticed the truss rod writing is not right, I will take it to a technician and he'll let me know if it's real or fake.....

I found this headstock picture from a LP member who has the same gguitar and compared it to mine and doesn't seem to be a lot of difference other than the truss rod writing, but again it will all clear out on Saturday when I take it to an expert.

check out the images and compare......the second image is an authentic Epi LP headstock with upgraded tuners.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

looks legit to me.. usually the inlays are WAAAAY off on the fakes. they look spot on. someone said that the TRC looked like it was to the left, i think it's centered but the angle gives that allusion that it's slightly to the left

i seriously doubt you have anything to worry about. i recommend in the future to shy away from online shopping for guitars unless it's from a reputable business (gibson has a list on their website) or just check the ad with a fine tooth comb so you don't have another scare like your current one

[kjlugo]

Thanks ninny404.....I will definitely not buy guitars off of eBay anymore.

[ninny404]

Originally Posted by kjlugo

Thanks ninny404.....I will definitely not buy guitars off of eBay anymore.

no problem... so any word on the authenticity of it?

p.s. ebay sometimes has some pretty good deals so i wouldn't say "never shop there again", just remember that a majority of the people on there are trying to scam people and you have to be wary when shopping there. like i said before, check with a fine tooth comb... make sure there's pictures of every angle of the guitar (headstock, serial #, body, etc), no mention of it being "imported", compare with other legitimate epi lp models and you should be fine.

[kjlugo]

So I took the guitar to Long & McQuade here in Toronto and they took a look at it, they didn't see any problem with it, I showed it to the tech and also a salesman, and both said it was OK and didn't think it was a fake, they actually told me it was a very nice guitar.....That was a huge releif!!!....I was so happy after that......

Thanks a lot for your thoughts guys......

cheers.

[dawn_dew]

how long did it take for them to check it? and how did they check it?

cause im still boggled by the truss rod cover writing being a little off.

[portablefrank]

I think the epi logo looks quite crude, also the posts of the machine heads on the right hand side seem to be too far to the left

[kjlugo]

The right hand side tuners seem to be too far left because of the way the picture is taken. It's angled a little bit.

I do agree on the Truss rod though, but I left the guitar in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon and they said there was nothing wrong with it.....they said I shouldn't worry about it.

[dawn_dew]

did you ask them what they checked?


did you have to pay them for that or no?

[kjlugo]

I didn't pay, those guys know me and they didn't charge me for that.

The tech said he took a look at it and checked the guts of it and said nothing was wrong, the salesman looked at it as well and said I shouldn't worry about it being a fake.

Besides that, I went to Steve's (another Les Paul authorized dealer) and they have the same guitar and I compared it to mine and couldn't see much of a difference either.....other than the truss rod of course....

Do you see something odd on it dawn?....I know the truss rod is weird but I am gonna replace it anyway, it bothers me a lot actually.

[dawn_dew]

just the truss rod cover was bugging me .

whats the colour of the serial number?
cause there are black and cream. and the payless guitars are cream.
but im not sure if the colour of the serial number determines its authenticity or not. probalbly not lol

[kjlugo]

Yes, I know that too.....mine is gold....the one I saw here at Steve's was black writing.....but again, they told me it doesn't mean is not authentic....I don't know wether that's valid or not.

[IMG][/IMG]

I just checked the Epi alpine white at payless guitars and it looks pretty much like mine but the Epiphone logo is different......I really don't know what to think know....

I sent an email to the person I bought it from and explained him my concern of the guitar being a fake and he said that their guitars are genuine.....but that's not guarantee anyway.....

[ninny404]

i think everyone has gotten you paranoid... if you went to a shop and they said it was fine then you should be good. i think it's legit aside fromt he TRC, but even so, that could be a factory error.. it does happen.

does it play nice? does it feel like a cheap guitar?

[Drayke]

I have a feeling that because it comes direct from the factory, it maybe a Epiphone Second. Anyone else think that?

[diceman]

Originally Posted by Drayke

I have a feeling that because it comes direct from the factory, it maybe a Epiphone Second. Anyone else think that?

I don't think that anything comes directly from the factory - I'd put big bucks on the fact that guitars from the factory ONLY go to authorized Gibson/Epiphone outlets, and not to individuals.

[dawn_dew]

no there are some on ebay that are dropshipped from the factory. mines coming right now haha.

[diceman]

How did you verify that?

Black market under the table or something maybe, but I'd be SHOCKED if Epiphone is shipping guitars overseas factory direct and bypassing their dealers - I just don't think its legit.

[dawn_dew]

ohh i see what you mean

but yeah, he knows this one guy at the factory so thats how.

[dawn_dew]

also, a lot of them ship from china, i dunno if its directly from the factory or not, but they do

[diceman]

Right... but most all of the fakes are also made in China!

I got some "under the table" Epis in Korea - so I know that it happened there - but I figure that Gibson is running a very tight ship at the Qingdao factory...

[dawn_dew]

ohh haha
hey dice, do you have any videos of you and your white custom? i wanna hear how they sound haha

[kjlugo]

It does plays nice and feels fine.....even the guys at the shop told me that, they said it was a nice guitar actually, so I'll just go by that and rest my head......they said I shouldn't worry about it being a fake so I'll just do that.....

I think I got my lesson learned anyway, I'll be extremely careful on my future "online" purchases.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by dawn_dew

ohh haha
hey dice, do you have any videos of you and your white custom? i wanna hear how they sound haha

Check out my band's page and listen to "Riverbed" - that is my tobacco burst Elitist, but it and the White Custom sound the same. Our recordings are pretty low quality - but on this track I'm the only guitar playing, so you can hear how it sounds rather than trying to figure out if you're hearing me or the other guitarist. I'm playing through the Laney stack, and using a Behringer Vintage Tube Monster OD box on the distorted sections. "Fri(day)" is also just me on guitar - its an old school sounding crappy sub-one-minute punk song, and is just distortion and power chords all the way through, but you can check that one out as well if you like! Rhythm part on "Intro" is me as well - that one came out alright...